Amikaeyla Gaston
Proclaimed as one of the “purest contemporary voices...” by National Public Radio, powerhouse Amikaeyla Proudfoot Gaston embraces the best of many types of music. Her sultry sound, as described by MTV, is “like listening to a velvet waterfall”, and her soulful, roots jazz flavor captures the listener with dynamic passion & enchanting sincerity. She began her training at 4yrs of age, studying classical piano and quickly added to her repertoire training on the viola, western & Indian flute, dulcimer, harp, and later, on a multitude of percussion instruments from around the world such as djembe, bata, conga, tabla, taiko, & timbale.
Amikaeyla’s debut album “Mosaic” received national attention winning an amazing twelve music awards, including Best Jazz Vocalist, Best Urban Contemporary Vocalist, Best World Music Vocalist, and Best Debut Artist. She was named Washington D.C.’s best Female Composer in 2006, 2008 and again in 2011 for excellence in original composition, and has performed, recorded with, and travelled the world touring with many award winning artists such as Take 6, Sweet Honey In The Rock, Baba Olatunji, Mickey Hart, Pete Seeger, Gil Scott Heron, Wyclef, Howard Levy of Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, Eugene Friesen & Glen Velez of the Paul Winter Consort, Esperanza Spalding, and Shiela E.
Her strong academic interest in Ethnomusicology & sacred chanting led her to study with many different spiritual and musical masters from many different cultures, & was invited to perform at the Inaugural Festival of Sacred Chanting and Singing for the commemoration of the Golden Buddha at the request and invitation of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
